Ratten Issue 2. 1962

In Memory of ASSAR GABRIELSSON Founder of Volvo ratten NO. 2 1962 THE 33RD YEAR OF ISSUE he recent death of Assar Gab- the future to be less significant than His co-operation with his colleagues rielsson has meant that Sweden the fact that it was he who introduced was always enthusiastic and full of Thas lost a great industrial leader the MTM system into Swedish industry. interest. In spite of the great authority with outstanding initiative. This is no He was convinced that the introduction he had within the company, problems place to describe the life and work of of this system would rationalize and were never settled on the basis of Mr. Gabrielsson since this has already simplify production, not only of motor prestige but his colleagues were always been done on various occasions. My vehicles but of any product and that given the chance to express their only wish is to make an attempt to this contribution was greater for Swe- opinions. As a person he sub-conscious- express the great loss suffered by the den and the competitive nature of its ly kept himself at some distance from Volvo Group of Companies, the crown- industry. The future will show whether his colleagues and comrades and there ing achievement of his life work, and he was right. In spite of his failing were very few within the company all his colleagues in these companies. health, Assar Gabrielsson closely fol- who came close to him in this respect. Under the leadership of Assar Gab- lowed all that happened in the com- I am convinced that this depended on rielsson, the Volvo Group of Com- pany until only a few days ago. an innate sense of shyness whereby he panies, now one of the largest industrial This year Volvo celebrates its 35th did not like to show his sentiments to undertakings in Sweden, developed anniversary and Assar Gabrielsson re- strangers and also possibly a desire to from an idea Mr. Gabrielsson got when signed his post as Chairman of the draw a dividing line between his work he was at SKF. In spite of difficulties Board at the General Meeting in May. and his private life. encountered during the first years the In spite of his poor health he took Under the leadership of Assar Gab- company was in existence and in spite an active part in the company and was rielsson and Gustaf Larson a certain of enormous problems, particularly responsible for all the important deci- atmosphere was created and a will to during the years of World War II, Assar sions made during the past year con- co-operate within the Volvo Group of Gabrielsson kept the company going cerning the development of the new Companies which was unique in Swed- with his untiring efforts and his Torslanda plant. On occasions when ish industry. For those of us today unshakeable belief in the future of a we, his colleagues, were doubtful about on whom the responsibility rests to Swedish automobile industry. He com- certain points concerning the respon- face the future with Volvo, we shall bined an outstanding talent for business sibilities to be assumed by the com- follow the lines he followed. It is up and economics with a dauntless belief pany, Assar Gabrielsson was always to us to see that the traditions and in the technical development of the full of confidence in the future and results of 35 years are carried onwards. products and expansion of the produc- was always very enthusiastic concern- We mourn the loss of our founder and tive resources. On many occasions he ing the greatest expansion in the history leader but his memory will remain made decisions which differed from the of Volvo. I know that it was his wish constantly with us as a symbol repres- more careful opinions of his colleagues to see this new factory in production enting the strength of our company but development showed that in practi- and that he hoped that his health would and its confidence in the future. In this cally all cases he had greater foresight last that long. Unfortunately this was spirit we know that we will be suc- concerning the future expansion of not to be the case but when the plant cessful. road traffic. I know few men who can is finally taken into use, the thoughts Assar Gabrielsson, we honour your look back on such achievements as and gratitude of all will go to the man memory and wish you eternal peace. Assar Gabrielsson and Dr. Gustaf Lar- who founded and created the possi- We are honoured to carry the proud son, who was his partner and friend bilities for this great factory. traditions of your Volvo and face the for many years. Strangely enough, As a person and a leader, Assar Gab- challenge of the future. Assar Gabrielsson considered that his rielsson was demanding but, at the creation of Volvo would show itself in same time, understanding and helpful. FRIENDSHIP AND LIFE-LONG CO-OPERATION he news about the death of Assay the possibilities of producing cars in made all things possible. He also got Gabrielsson has been received his native Sweden. As for me, ever SKF to believe in us. And so the car- Tand it was not unexpected. A since my years with the car industry producing company, AB Volvo, became fine man is gone; a man whose life's in England, I had been attuned to the a reality in the autumn of 1926. We work made him widely known and same idea and had begun to make established ourselves in the Gothen- admired. Without doubt, his deeds provisional calculations. burg district of Hisingen. throughout the years have been in the Then came the Midsummer's Eve of Then came the arduous years of 1926 minds of many-deeds to spur the the year 1924. I happened to dash into to 1929. Working and worrying in the imagination on to a higher goal. a cafeteria just before making a trip hope that calculations and estimates Memories of Assay Gabrielsson crowd to the countryside and met Gabriel would be met. But they were not met my mind at this time and I would like in the cafe. "Why, Gustaf", he cried, and so, for one reason or another, it to recall some of these impressions. "I hear you've been busy with cars! was impossible to maintain the desired Gabrielsson and I knew each other We must meet and talk about it!". "Of production pace. But the estimates for 45 years as friends and colleagues- course", I replied in a hurry, "but not about profit margins were correct; so and towards the end, also as spectators at the moment. I'll see you later!". much so that profits were made at an of the progressive work which had Well, later it had to be-in fact, it even faster rate than anticipated. Per- been a source of joy to both of us. was in August of the same summer. spicacity, optimism based upon cold My thoughts first turn to the month That Swedish delicacy of ours, crayfish, reality, the ability to grasp the fleeting of May, in 1917, when we first worked tempted me to visit the Sturehof opportunity courageously, prudence together at the Swedish Ball Bearing Restaurant-and there sat Gabriel, when such a course was dictated, forth- Company, SKF, in Gothenburg. Gabriel alone, with a mountainous pile of rightness and trustworthiness-these was then a stately young man with a boiled, red crayfish before him. I sat were the basic qualities that Gabriel moustache. He was energetic and sales- down opposite him and we tackled the was equipped with as a leader. minded and, among his other duties, crayfish with gusto and a complete There were many who had their eyes it was his responsibility to handle the disregard for shop talk. In after years, fixed upon him, and he was "lent sales of the pulley belts and other it became a pleasant custom of ours to out" for other important work. But he transmission parts which was my job eat crayfish together annually, and always returned to the vocation which to design. He also met me on the towards the end of the 1940's other was really his. In my mind's eye, I like tennis court with a liveliness which senior members of Volvo also joined best to recall him sitting opposite me was still very much with him later on us in these pleasant festivities. at that enormous desk in our office on as a golfer. Plans were now pushed rapidly ahead. the upper floor of that old storehouse Our ways then parted; his led him Cost analyses for a passenger car were of Volvo's. That was, in all truth, a to Paris and mine to Stockholm. Later, ready by September 1924; blue-prints room of parts: the draughtsmen's room, he told me that he first became fasci- in July 1925; and the ten experimental the accounting department, the cashier's nated over the possibilities of the auto- cars built in Stockholm were out on desk and the sales office-all in one! motive industry during his Paris so- the Swedish roads between June and But even in those early days, a clear journ. He saw the tremendous demand August, 1926. Gabriel was personally insight and a feeling of companionship for ball bearings needed by French obliged to make a great many financial were engendered there-really and cars, and he began to speculate over sacrifices but a firm belief in the future truly.

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